3 Reasons to Ramp Up Your Job Search in December – No it’s not just to avoid the family.

December 4, 2017

Tips to getting a head start on your 2018 job search through the holidays.

The 2017 holiday season has begun. Between year-end close, holiday parties, online shopping, and meal prep, finding a job often becomes the last priority for many job seekers. Finding a job or switching careers is challenging and, more importantly, time consuming. That being said, here’s how continuing your job search through the holidays can ultimately position you ahead of your peers.

1. Improve your odds. Invest time when others are not.

On average, active job seekers spend 11 hours per week on their job search. This time commitment drastically drops through December due to seasonal time commitments and increased professional responsibilities for accounting and finance professionals. As a result, employers see a huge drop in job applications throughout the month.

Get ahead of your competition. Submit your resume. With a reduction in the average number of job applicants per job, the odds of having your resume reviewed by an internal or external recruiter increase ten-fold. Even if the job opportunity you are applying for does not work out, the internal or external recruiters reviewing your resume may know of job opportunities coming down the pipeline that you are qualified for in 2018.

2. Take advantage of increased networking opportunities in a personal setting.

The holiday season is a great time of year to network with peers. Each year, there is an overall increase in the average number of networking opportunities available in December. Take advantage of this. Make it a goal to attend at least three networking events during the holiday season to build your network. Remember, it’s not about who you know… it’s about who knows who you know.

3. When most are thinking they will wait for employers’ 2018 budgets, you should be looking at taking advantage of what is still available in the 2017 budget.

The ‘bigger and better’ jobs will be arriving once budgets are established in 2018, right? Wrong. Although there is an overall increase in the number of opportunities available in the market, most employers continue to post job opportunities through the end of the year to ensure they are adhering to their 2017 budget. Take advantage of this, you may just receive an offer which knocks the socks off your company’s annual one year subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club bonus. Just call us cousin Eddie.

If you are considering advancing your career in 2018 with a new job, start now and get ahead of your competition. Working hard through December to advance your career can make your job search more successful later on.

In the meantime, we wish everyone luck and happiness in the month to come and if you are interested in learning more regarding how Pinnacle can assist you with your accounting or finance job search, contact us at advance@paf-resources.com.

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